City of Penticton officials this week issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), seeking operators for a pair of popular beach concession stands for at least the next three years.
Operators are being sought at the Skaha East and Peach concession stands, according to the RFP which opened on March 14.
"These strategically located concessions offer locals and visitors convenient refreshment options during the summer,鈥 said Kelsey Johnson, the city鈥檚 general manager of community services.
The city says it hopes to award the RFP by May 1, "so there is no interruption in service." Operators are being sought for a term of between three and five years, it added.
Vallarta Fiesta Grill is the most recent operator of the Skaha East location, situated along the southern Penticton beach at 3885 South Main St.
Family Squeezed Lemonade, meanwhile, has operated out of the Peach since 2022. It is located at 185 Lakeshore Dr. at Okanagan Beach.
鈥淎s the land where the buildings are located is dedicated parkland, the Parkland Protection and Use Policy requires any new agreements within parkland to follow a step-by-step procedure and receive a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee to issue an RFP for renewing and selecting tenants," Johnson added.
While operators will be responsible for utilities, day-to-day upkeep, safety and security of the building, the city says it will continue to be responsible for the surrounding grounds and nearby washrooms, and "major" maintenance.
There are four beach concessions buildings in Penticton, with Sudbury Beach and Skaha Main representing the other two. Operator contracts for those stands expire on Sept. 30, 2028.
The current RFP can be found here.